Suicide in Paris, oct 1986, their first concert together from a five year-hiatus. An event, the whole bunch of Paris artistic hype is there, a fistful of authentic fans drowning among. (For some time Suicide was much of a legendary myth no one would hear, really, though would know for a historical fact they were 'important,' and so would 'listen' once at this strangeness no bother going deeper) The live show starts, regular dudes doing their job, after a somewhat 40'-45' they both disappear from stage, the drum-machine staying suspended in time on a single loop.. it lasted some 40' of the unique 4/4 loop (the same amount they just had played ) during which all that f*cking hype leave the theater to Suicide-lovers enjoyment. When they rushed back in a craze state of intense 'dementia' (fully loaded with high standard coke my guess) the show eventually took-off, for a fantastic hour, a top 5 concert souvenir in my experience. We kept a third of the initial crowd, a few -- i don't know 5 to 8? -- hundreds, to share this magical anti-establishment 'statement.'. Radicalism at its greatest.. (on this time France was the only place to grant them serious care, and some money with, hence their prime reunion come back here). I had seen solo Vega 6 months before in a little club, a 45' concert (!) which happened to be so intense, with such a sound engineering i would put it top 5, too, despite its short lasting time, this fact adding to the charm in my view.. Underground Sinatra, a very rare singer he was.
dTom Stamps why would it matter if he was or wasn’t? He’s appreciating great art and your trying to make it into a dick measuring contest. From what I’ve learned in my life, you might actually need some help yourself.
The interviewer is Ian Svenonious, who is no slouch himself when it comes to music and performance. Please check out Nation of Ulysses and The Make-Up.
My guys, just came back to this comment section to thank you for the tip. I read it here yesterday morning and I've been listening to Svenonious' stuff since then. Peeeeace =)
That story he told about buying his first drum machine from that girl who committed suicide is very cosmic. Almost as if she blessed their sound from the beyond. As well they named their band that is very coincidental.
Just to add to Aurelio's comment, I took the second photo, when "Suicide" is said - I wasn't contacted, but I put it on Wikipedia, so it's free for all - these guys were so amazing, first heard of them in 1979 and their impact is the same today
the picture at the beginning of the interview was taken by me in Bologna, Italy, in 2002, I'm very proud they ask me the right to use it . Alan Vega and Martin Rev are the most important Artist I ever met in my life! I'm so sad about Alan departure.
I remember my dad got me my first Rythm-Ace in 1968. I was 8 years old and had a Westinghouse reel to reel and a Gibson spring reverb connected to a Farfisa Combo Compact Deluxe organ. My dog was the singer in the band.
Best thing about the 70s was the 50 cent bin. It was like free content practically. Being dirt poor, bored, and sexy you needed new things to keep the dream alive. I know it wasn't good for the artists but it was in a indirect way. Rev says the stooges, the velvets and Suicide. All in the bins with the contortions, Johnny Thunders, lydia lunch, and even Alan Vega's solo work and many more records that I think are the great American song book. We were hobos in a sense and sung about the hopeless struggle against the man.👊
Back in 02' I did security for a gig/showing of their's and Alan's art in Soho NYC(Deitch Projects). I got to stand near them on the side of the stage as they did their thing. I didn't at the time know who they where. I learned later on..
Saw them at CBGB's back in the day... The one guy played this keyboard while the other guy continuously shouted obsenities at us. "You all phuking suck" seemed to be a chorus. I figured they now worked at a gas station or something... who knew ?
I bumped into Avalon Kalin walking down Hawthorne one day and he had the Suicide lp and it had blood all over it. I figured if he liked it, I should check it out, it was more than music, more than a band..
RU-vid is a hard habit to quit. And with Wikipedia, it's like a "speedball". I forget to eat, ... forget to go to bed. I thought I recognized the host. Ian Svenonius from Nation of Ulysses. Just discovered them last week. And now I just discovered Suicide a few hours ago. ☆ Started off this jag with Joy Division. A few days ago, it was Hanson. 😆 For real.
At first I didn't know the interviewer was doing satire he's good haha he didn't give it away but once he was saying rude things and the interviewee would smile I figured it out lol.
This is the only interview I’ve ever liked, other than Rollins. Very very interesting that he was friends with Vega. Other interviews seem far fetched.
The story about the girl he got his first drum machine from was crazy. Spoken words over a drum machine? She might of been the first rapper ever and she killed herself before her concept came to dominate the culture
7:55 omg anyone else agree? I NEEVER remember my lyrics. In fact, I change them when I sing my demos in my car. If I ever get a band, I feel like I’d do that on stage
You couldn't name a single policy of his you disagree with. Like most liberals with Trump derangement syndrome, you are only trying to sound cool to your friends you simp.
Martin Rev speaks! but, the most telling quote come from Vega: "we are the only true democracy" Goes to show, to quote another: *there is no 'us and them' there is only 'u and i'*
